One Direction stars gather for funeral of ex-bandmate Liam Payne
CTV
Liam Payne's family, friends and former bandmates have come together to pay tribute to the British singer at his funeral in England on Wednesday, just over a month after the One Direction star died aged 31 in Argentina.
Liam Payne’s family, friends and former bandmates have come together to pay tribute to the British singer at his funeral in England on Wednesday, just over a month after the One Direction star died aged 31 in Argentina.
His former bandmates, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, attended the service at St. Mary’s Church in the town of Amersham, northwest of London. The church was decorated with white roses and candle holders.
Each of Payne’s former bandmates trickled into the venue on Wednesday, where several dozen fans and onlookers lined a quaint street in the picturesque town.
Just after 1 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ET), a horse-drawn carriage moved into view, carrying Payne’s casket. The late singer’s mother wept and his father stood stoically, watching as their son’s coffin was removed from the hearse and walked inside.
Payne died on Oct. 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system, according to the country’s public prosecutor’s office, which launched an investigation. Three people are facing preliminary charges for crimes related to his death.
The musician spoke publicly about his challenges with substance abuse and his mental health. In the summer of 2023, he said he was marking six months of sobriety after completing treatment in a U.S. facility. Later that year, he delayed his tour after suffering a kidney infection.
